Mackubin, Florence - portrait of Jennie Walters Delano, aka Mrs. Warren Delano III.

               

This miniature portrait is signed "Florence Mackubin after Chartran". Florence Mackubin (1866-1918) worked in several different cities. See Annapolis Collection - Florence Mackubin for some examples of her large portraits.

She had studied art in Fontainebleau, in Munich, and in Paris. She was commissioned by the State of Maryland to copy the portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria, for whom Maryland was named and her copy now hangs in the Annapolis State House. There are numerous Internet references to her work.

MacKubin specialized in portraits (miniatures, pastels, and oil) of governors, government officials, and socially prominent women. At the 1893 Exposition, she exhibited 58 pastels and won a Bronze Medal. She also visited Europe on several occasions and her return is noted in New York arrival records dated; 21 Jun 1876, 22 Jun 1891, 12 Dec 1892, and 21 Nov 1903. The 1910/1911 Who's Who stated she was born in Florence, Italy of American parents and in 1911 was living in Canada ar St Andrews, New Brunswick.

The reference to Chartran, is to Theobold Chartran (1849-1907) who was a noted French portrait painter of the period. Chartran visited the United States on several occasions, as shown in New York arrival records dated 14 Nov 1896, 18 Jan 1904, and 15 Jan 1906. It is probable these visits were to undertake painting commissions. For more about him, see Theobald Chartran - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

At the time, it was not uncommon for the owner of a large portrait to commission a miniature copy of it. This is most likely the case here, but when the miniature was purchased, the whereabouts of the large portrait and the name of the sitter were both unknown. 680

Much later - September, 2018.

I have been stunned to receive an email from a very kind visitor, who has put an enormous effort into personally researching this miniature, and selflessly forwarded the information to me. The visitor has not only located the original of the portrait, but has credibly pointed towards the identity of the sitter. I agree with the logic, about the lorgnette, also note a consistent high forehead and similar hair-style.

As further below, the original oil portrait is currently for sale on Ebay, but at USD 3950 unframed is beyond my purse. The visitor/researcher clearly has exceptional art history ability and dogged determination, and I am very grateful for her efforts and the details received, as shown below. :

  

[[ I came across your miniature 680, Portrait of a Lady by Florence MacKubin (American/Italian 1861–1918) after [Theobald] Chartran (French, 1849–1907), and thought you might want some additional information for your collection. I got totally distracted from what I was doing and got into my detective mode. There is no need for you to update your miniature site (for my benefit) with any new info since I know your attention is elsewhere. I was certain, however, that you would want to see my discovery in item 4 below.

1.            This is your miniature, accessed at http://american-miniatures20c.blogspot.com/2006/04/mackubin-florence-portrait-of-lady.html.

                My guess is she is holding a lorgnette in her right hand, which seems unimportant—at the moment.

2.            My first effort to identify the sitter was to locate the Chartran portrait that your MacKubin miniature is after. Since Chartran travelled from Paris to the United States for commissions to paint only the elite socialites, I thought I had a good chance to find it. I found two portraits of the same approximate age and similar face but no other common features except in one—the lorgnette.

                a.            Jennie Walters Delano (Mrs. Warren Delano III, 1853–1922,) by Chartran, held by the Walters Art Museum, accessible at https://art.thewalters.org/detail/19210/portrait-of-jennie-walters-delano-1853-1922/.

                 As you can see, Mrs. Delano is holding in her right hand what appears to be a lorgnette. Jennie (Walters) Delano was the sister of Henry Walters, the founder of the Walters Art Museum, the owner of this portrait and a prestigious institution in Baltimore, Maryland.

                b.            Mrs. Charles Lockhart (nee Eliza “Jane” Walker, 1839–1900) by Chartran, on Art Renewal Center, accessed at                                 https://www.artrenewal.org/Artwork/Index/4308.

  

                She has something in her hand that might be a handkerchief but definitely not a lorgnette. When you view the larger image on the Art Renewal site, not only is there no likeness to your miniature, but her eyes seem very different than those in your miniature.                 

3.            The Walters also holds another miniature of Jennie Walters Delano by William Jacob Baer (American, 1860–1941), accessed at

https://art.thewalters.org/detail/26111/portrait-of-jennie-walters-delano/.

               

                The miniature is dated 1898 and therefore she would be aged 45–46.

4.            Even though I was leaning towards Jennie Walters Delano as the sitter of your miniature, I was determined to find the portrait by Chartran that had the same background and dress as yours.  So, I first searched for Mrs. Charles Lockhart and Theobald Chartran and eureka! By pure luck and even more, coincidence, there is an active listing on eBay that purports to be a portrait of a lady by Chartran. The likeness to your miniature is apparent and very possibly would be the original portrait by Chartran for the your miniature above by MacKubin “after Chartran.”

                I hope the auction is still active and is accessible on eBay at https://www.ebay.com/itm/Theobald-Chartran-Portrait-Of-A-Lady-Possibly-Mrs-Charles-Lockhart-Pittsburgh/123172640868?hash=item1cada95864:g:Os0AAOSwb39bFYvD. If not, I did make a PDF of the listing so let me know.

               

                a.            As you can see on the larger images on eBay, she also has what appears to be a lorgnette in her hand.

                b.            The eBay seller’s listing states “We believe the sitter to be Mrs Charles Lockhart, wife of wealthy Pittsburgh businessman Charles Lockhart (1818 - 1905). However we are uncertain, but she bears an exact likeness (yet older) to a portrait that Chartran did of her and her husband Charles previously [the seller is referring to the portrait I cited in 2(b) above]. We believe those portraits reside in The Frick Art Museum [I believe this is incorrect] in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.”

                c.             The sitter is not Mrs. Charles Lockhart. If I have read correctly the date as 1904 (see next item 5), that eliminates the sitter as Mrs. Charles Lockhart (as stated in the eBay listing) since Mrs. Lockhart died in 1900 (source is on Find A Grave, accessible at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/46819218/eliza-jane-lockhart).

5.            Of interest is the seller’s photo of the signature (the listing states it is partially indiscernible) but I read it as “Chartran / Baltimore(?) / 1904.”

                a.            I have observed from several examples that Chartran indicated the U. S. city under his signature when he painted commissions during his many trips to the United States. Therefore, if I have read correctly the word “Baltimore” under Chartran’s name, it is a possible connection with Jennie Walters Delano and of course her brother, Henry Walters. Henry lived in Baltimore (but spent most of his time in New York City) and the Walters Art Museum is in Baltimore. Jennie lived in Baltimore with her father, William, but moved to New York after she married Warren Delano.

                Here is the history of Henry Walters, Jennie Walters Delano’s brother, and their father William Walters, on the Walters Art Museum site:

https://thewalters.org/about/history/.

                b.            A date of 1904 would indicate the sitter — if she is Jennie Walters Delano — to be aged 51–52. Comparing her to Jennie aged 45–46 in the miniature by Baer, item 3 above, shows sensible aging between the two sitters.

                c.             Theobald Chartran was in the United States and in New York, at a minimum, from February 15–29, 1904, for his exhibition at the Galleries of M. Knoedler & Co. See invitation on The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries, accessible at  http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll8/id/10045/rec/2. There are several portraits by him online that are dated 1904 and indicate various cities in the United States during 1904.

THEREFORE, I hypothesize that the sitter of your miniature is Jennie Walters Delano, aka Mrs. Warren Delano III. I have a terrible eye for comparing likenesses (and it is usually wishful thinking) so I bow to your expertise. To possibly obtain a definite identification, you can email the Walters Art Museum. Online resources, especially photographs of the Walters family, are non-existent and I feel certain their holdings are extensive. A quick, visual look by the right person might answer your query. If you want to email the museum, here are the contact emails. I would probably choose Jo Briggs, the Associate Curator of 18th- and 19th-Century Art. https://thewalters.org/contact/ ]]

Ebay

The Ebay listing may disappear, but for the sake of future art historians the portrait is described as below, although the name of the sitter seems doubtful in view of the above research.

[[Ebay - For sale is an important 1904 oil on canvas French portrait painting of a lady by the well known French portrait artist Théobald Chartran (1849 - 1907) Chartran painted throughout Europe as well as numerous portrait paintings that he completed while on visits to the United States during his career. Usually painting for wealthy clientele

This painting features a seated three-quarter length (near full) portrait of a lady of high society.
We believe the sitter to be Mrs Charles Lockhart, wife of wealthy Pittsburgh businessman Charles Lockhart (1818 - 1905). However we are uncertain, but she bears an exact likeness (yet older) to a portrait that Chartran did of her and her husband Charles previously. We believe those portraits reside in The Frick Art Museum in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Charles Lockhart was friends with the Fricks who were also a wealthy Pittsburgh steel family. Charles Lockhart was an art collector and oil man (The Brilliant Oil Refinery, Lockhart, Frew & Co. and Standard Oil Trust). He was close friends with the Frick

As seen in the pictures, this painting has been restored and lined. We would assume that the top and left edges may have been cut down. As can be seen on the right side the signature is visible on the front but an inscription underneath it wraps around to the edge of the stretcher. We cannot make out the description(see pictures). The paint is very stable and it is in overall good condition.

We purchased this painting without the frame. Due to the painting being relined we are unsure if that older frame was original to the painting or not. That frame is in an antique frame shop and if needed can be located for you. Measurements: 41” x 33” Please ask any additional questions regarding this painting should you have them prior to purchase.

Théobald Chartran (1849 - 1907)
An artist with an international following, Théobald Chartran was among the most popular portraitists of the late nineteenth century. A student of Cabanel, Chartran began a successful Salon career in 1872. In 1877 he won the Prix de Rome and a third class medal at the Salon, as well as a second class medal at the Salon of 1881 and a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1889. He was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

Chartran's clientele reached well beyond France. Beginning in 1881, he exhibited at the Royal Academy and at the Grafton Gallery in London, and it is certain that he traveled to the United States to complete portrait commissions. His clientele included such prominent Americans as Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie.]]